As Tesla Semi reservations grow, so does pressure to deliver

FedEx said Monday it has reserved 20 fully-electric Tesla Semi trucks, which aren’t scheduled to begin production until late 2019.

“Our investment in these trucks is part of our commitment to improving road safety while also reducing our environmental impact,” said FedEx Freight Chief Executive Mike Ducker in a statement.

The Tesla Semi is an all-electric, battery-powered, Class 8 truck prototype which was unveiled on November 16, 2017 and planned for production in 2019…

In response to Musk’s description of Tesla’s work on a “a heavy duty, long-range semi truck” at a talk in April 2017, researchers from the Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering estimated the loads and ranges for an electric truck, given battery technologies known a year ago. They determined that an electric semi might be feasible for short- or medium-range hauling, but not for long-range, as the weight of the batteries required would take up too much of the weight allowed by law.More>>